Cost to install metal ceiling?

[Shoester]

I’ve got about 2,800sf of metal ceiling to install in my new shop. 16’ sidewalls, with scissor trusses making the center height about 21’. So far I’ve received a labor + materials quote of $9,300 (they will use my scissor lift), and a labor only quote of $8,400. Does anyone have some recent experience to share on what you paid for this? It seems high to me, but I also don’t want to have to do it myself so I recognize it’s probably a pain in the ***! I can get material through Menards for about $3k with the 11% rebate.

 

[NUTTSGT]

They are going to make $8400 in a day. Basically.

Granted I didn't have the ceiling height you have but using a drywall lift I did the house garage and garage addition working off a ladder. If you look at other suppliers in your area, you can probably get the steel cheaper than Menard's.

Personally, I would rent a lift and get some friends for help, slip some cash with the savings, and smile with your fat wallet when you're done.


EDIT: with that kind of savings, you could probably buy a small man lift, finish out your interior and resell it when you're done.

 

[PCustoms]

EDIT: with that kind of savings, you could probably buy a small man lift, finish out your interior and resell it when you're done.

(they will use my scissor lift),

 

[Youngandfree]

I’ve got about 2,800sf of metal ceiling to install in my new shop. 16’ sidewalls, with scissor trusses making the center height about 21’. So far I’ve received a labor + materials quote of $9,300 (they will use my scissor lift), and a labor only quote of $8,400. Does anyone have some recent experience to share on what you paid for this? It seems high to me, but I also don’t want to have to do it myself so I recognize it’s probably a pain in the ***! I can get material through Menards for about $3k with the 11% rebate.

So get a different quote for just labor from someone else and see what they come to. Clearly it's more than $900 in materials for the difference in the two notes you got.

 

[u2slow]

It seems high to me, but I also don’t want to have to do it myself so I recognize it’s probably a pain in the ***! I can get material through Menards for about $3k with the 11% rebate.

Sometimes you have to make hard choices.... like suffering through DIY, or not doing it at all.

My shop ceiling is still not done, 12 years have gone by. I didn't have much choice with my house roof though, had to DIY it.

 

[AC-WC]

Materials for my ceiling was just under $1200 and that's doing a cathedral of 756 sf. I was glad to pay the Amish $2500 and they were done in 2 days.

It took me 2 weekends to do the gables by myself.

 

[Shoester]

I asked the first company if they could do any better, and they 'sharpened their pencil' down to $7,400 labor & material.

 

[finn]

It probably took me two years to finish the ceiling in my 32’x54’ garage. The first 2/3 went up fast, but by the time I finished that, the last 1/3 was filled with projects and tools.

I saved a few bucks, but if I had to do it again, I would likely hire it out, and do it before I moved in.

Get another quote.

Another thing to consider, is the liability issue you are stuck with if letting a contractor use your ladders or lifts for overhead work.

Our insurance company at work had an ironclad policy of absolutely forbidding any contractor on site from using company tools, especially ladders or lifts. Apparently it was a pretty popular scam to “fall” and collect a nice settlement. Contractors were prohibited from “borrowing” a ladder even for a couple of minutes. Same with man lifts.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I missed that.

All the more reason I would do it myself.

I asked the first company if they could do any better, and they 'sharpened their pencil' down to $7,400 labor & material.

Because they know they can make bank on your project. They're still $4K + to the good.

 

[Ran58]

I had about 2000 ft of metal ceiling on my shop and it was 12 ft high. Did it myself with scaffolding and home Made braces. Took me about a month as some days I would put up 2-3 panels and some days didn’t put up any. This is a job you can do by yourself if you are willing to do it. No way would I pay $8000.

 

[jskicet]

I bought my metal and had it delivered. I paid $2200 in labor to install it. The shop is 30x36 with 14 foot walls. The back 8 feet across is separated by a wall. It took two guys about 7 hours. I supplied the roll around 8ft scaffolding. Your estimated seems a little steep.

 

[Shoester]

I bought my metal and had it delivered. I paid $2200 in labor to install it. The shop is 30x36 with 14 foot walls. The back 8 feet across is separated by a wall. It took two guys about 7 hours. I supplied the roll around 8ft scaffolding. Your estimated seems a little steep.

Thanks, that’s a good data point. I can buy materials from Menards for about $4k, so I’m guessing this company can get them for $3k. That means their labor is ~ $4,400, or $4,700 including scissor lift rental. That’s about $1.68/sf.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Thanks, that’s a good data point. I can buy materials from Menards for about $4k, so I’m guessing this company can get them for $3k. That means their labor is ~ $4,400, or $4,700 including scissor lift rental. That’s about $1.68/sf.

Have you priced it at post frame suppliers ?

We have big box stores and some "Amish/Mennonite" owned places that build trusses and roll their own steel. They sell to the general public.

 

[purplezr2]

Note sure what you plan to use for materials, but I plan to use steel from Menards for mine. Materials will be roughly 3k for 2400 square feet. I have a lift and plan to install myself so not info on labor costs.

 

[bluedog225]

Curious which metal ceiling product you chose. Wish we had Menards.

 

[Shoester]

Curious which metal ceiling product you chose. Wish we had Menards.

Standard "Pro Rib" 29ga metal panel. 60 sheets comes out to $3,400 before tax and rebate. $500 of trim and screws. I've got some rebate money already though from the main building kit.

 

[oldironfarmer]

If you have any reliable handymen around just pay a guy by the hour and come out a lot cheaper.

And, as others have said, look for a sheet metal supplier. Guys that roll their own will almost always be cheaper than someone paying overhead like Menards and Home Depot.

 

[racecougar]

Agreed. When I did my ceiling and walls, the local sheet metal supplier was right at 40% cheaper than Menards.

 

[ddurrett896]

Once you get the channel around the perimeter, it goes up pretty easy with (2) Baker scaffolds and a dry way lift.

Once you get the direction of the panels, lay it out on paper so you know what panels next and don't need to worry about seams, just throw them up based on the layout.

A 16' panel x 24" x $1.68 labor per sqft = $53/panel. That's EXPENSIVE!

Check to see if you have a McElroy metal location near you. It's been 5 years since I did the ceiling but their pricing was pretty competitive.

 

[Gearbanger]

I'm in the process of doing a ceiling right now. Bought a $200 scaffold at HF and the 2'x8' sheets at $27/each at Home Depot. I'll have about $2500 in it when I'm done. 36'x40' with 12' ceiling. Minus bathroom and storage *about* 1400 SF.

 

[finn]

Be careful with the “roll your own” metal suppliers.

I know a couple of places that had to do complete skin tear offs because the metal pattern used on their buildings was NLA….they couldn’t find any supplier to match their existing tin.

One was ice damage to the roof, the other was an entire skin to a pole barn he was converting to a proper garage.

Lesson learned: stick with the common “Pro Rib” pattern available almost everywhere.

 

[jskicet]

I used Best Metal. I told them the lengths I needed and they delivered it. I used the same company for my home. They rolled it on the spot. Pretty impressive.

 

[ipgenie]

I'm no expert on interior metal, but I've done a lot of exterior over the years. I'm going to be installing metal inside of my pole barn, hopefully this year. My interior ceiling is also sloped, but not nearly as high as yours.

I'm betting part of the higher installation cost is your high vaulted ceiling. A flat ceiling looks pretty easy to hold in place with a drywall jack, but it looks to me like it will be harder to do that with the sloped ceiling and 21ft at the peak is too tall for my drywall jack, even with the taller lift column and 2ft extension bar. I think they are quoting extra labor because they know it will take an extra guy and more time to install.

Also, don't forget to include screws in your materials quote. Trim and screws can add up fast and 2800 sq ft is a good sized building. 40x70 with a 21ft vaulted ceiling is a bigger job than most DIYers who posted above.

 

[rust in the eye]

Did my own, 1100 sq' with a helper using a roll around scaffold, 14' ceiling.
Plan carefully and have the pieces pre -cut to align/overlap at the bottom chord of your trusses. At that point all you need is a screw gun and a chiropracter for your neck.